BACON'S BITS: CARDS CRUSH UTAH VALLEY, 98–68

Coach Rick Pitino, Christine Minardi and Minardi Classic MVP Trey Lewis

By Mark Bacon

Louisville overwhelmed Utah Valley 98-68 on Wednesday night in the finale of the Billy Minardi Classic at the KFC Yum! Center. The Cards shot 55.4 percent, dished out 19 assists and cruised for the second straight night over a team not able to mount much of a challenge.

The team now turns its attention to a Saturday showdown at rival Kentucky, which has beaten Louisville seven of the last eight meetings.

• U of L easily got its points against Utah Valley (5-8), as it has for the most part against 10 other non-power-conference teams to this juncture in the season. The Cards shot 69 percent in the first half and finished over 50 percent for the ninth time this season.

• "For most teams, just to walk in the gym and shoot 70 percent from the floor (for a half) with no defense is sometimes challenging," said Utah Valley coach Mark Pope. "They really shoot it well and are really long, really, really long. I would have to think they are a top-five, top-seven team in the country right now with (Pitino) running things the way he does."

• U of L displayed its depth, with nine players scoring in the first half. The Cards made 9 of 22 3-point shots, including 7 of 11 before halftime. 

• Guard Trey Lewis led U of L with 21 points and seven rebounds in being named Billy Minardi Classic MVP. Quentin Snider and Damion Lee, the other two starting backcourt players, tallied 15 and 11 points, respectively.

• A night after posting a career-high 10 points against Missouri-Kansas City, Jaylen Johnson contributed eight points and six rebounds in 25 minutes – the most of any frontcourt player.

• Chinanu Onuaku, possibly the most physically imposing post player in the UK-U of L game, again saw his time limited by foul trouble. He picked up two fouls in the first 10 minutes. But he was productive when in the game, making all three of his shots, scoring six points with six rebounds, four assists and four blocks.

• While the Cards dazzled again on offense, it received additional defensive help from 7-footer Anas Mahmoud, who returned from an injury to block four shots and looked like a consistent presence protecting the rim.

• Louisville also got a lift from freshman wing Deng Adel, in his second game back from missing a month with a sprained knee. Adel had eight points in 15 minutes.

• “We’ve had an easy road, there’s no question about it,” Pitino said. “But now we’re going to have a very tough road. These guys, I think, will be up for the challenge.” U of L tips off against UK Saturday at high noon. The game will be broadcast by CBS.

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